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Mama said they make me nicer

The Fella’s Big Day

Shortly after I knew the Fella might be the One, I had a dream. It was a time of war, very WWII era like–planes flying over, dropping bombs, warships on the water, fire everywhere, people frantically running. And in my dream, I stood there watching it all.

And I had a sense of peace.

Because in the midst of all the chaos, I saw the Fella standing over across the way, handling things.

And that’s all I needed to know.

It’s not that he was rescuing me. Or anyone else. I’ve reached an age where I realize that there is no such thing as someone else really rescuing me. If I find myself locked in a tower, I’d better get to work figuring things out for myself as to how to get out of there if I want out. And if I don’t, that’s on me too.

But here’s what I do know. If I find myself locked in a tower or pursued by wicked and evil, I know that I want the Fella there.

Because he remains calm.

Yeah, well, sometimes it is to the point of frustrating me just how unshakeable he can be, but when I get myself “situated” as my Mama used to say, I know his calmness is just what I need. He is a rock. My rock.

He has seen me through the heartbreak of death and the joy of new life and the fear of illness and worry over raising children. He doesn’t slay dragons for me, but he sure stands by my side ready and willing when I take them on. And he’s okay with me taking them on.

Which is pretty huge I think. He empowers me, and he believes I am capable.

And he makes me laugh. Which is pretty much my most favorite thing ever.

Tomorrow is his birthday. We’ve been together for fourteen of his birthdays now. His first one, we weren’t yet engaged, and his birthday came before mine, so there was ALL THE PRESSURE of what to do about a gift, how much to say in a card, and all the stress.

goofy Star Wars humor t-shirt and some Lego minifigures that we hoped he’d like and homemade cards because we are all about the creativity and using all the colors.

And all our love.

But he gets that most days anyways.

I am thankful for this Fella who was born ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. (Yes for six weeks he’s TWO years older than I am, and I do not let him forget it a single day.) He jokes about how he lived in Georgia for a couple of years when we were both teenagers and how he drove by our exit on the interstate several times and what if, all those years ago…..

Then he laughs and says I would have never given him the time of day back then.

I don’t know for sure if that’s true or not. But I’m mindful of a quote my friend shared at Evening Prayer last night.

“When conditions are sufficient things manifest.”–Thich Nhat Hahn

And so, instead of being sad over all the years we missed being together, I am thankful for the fact that conditions lent themselves to this Fella crossing my path a little over thirteen years ago and him inviting me to come along with him.

It’s been quite the ride we’ve had, the two of us. I’m glad my Fella’s the One riding shotgun as we see where this road takes us and our crew.

Happy birthday, Fella. Thanks for all the days. And the love. But mostly for the laughter. 😉 And because it’s your special day, I’ll save you the last bag of sweet potato chips. Yeah, you’re just that loved.